Extension uses AP style for writing dates and times in correspondence, blogs, and news releases.

#1 Rule: Superscripts

• Never use st, nd, th, or rd with a date. A date is always written with month (abbreviated if appropriate) and day without a superscript. If the date includes a year, use a comma after the number before the year. If the sentence only includes the month and year, do not use a comma.
  USE: The meeting will be July 3. | DON'T USE: The meeting will be July 3rd.
  USE: The meeting will be in July 2020. | DON'T USE: The meeting will be in July, 2020.

#2 Rule: Abbreviations

• Abbreviate the month if used with a date, but not if standing alone. Never abbreviate March, April, May, June, or July.
• USE: The deadline is Jan. 1. | USE: The deadline is March 1. |  DON'T USE: The deadline is January 1.
• USE: The meeting will be in January. | DON'T USE: The meeting will be in Jan.

#3 Rule: Times

• Use p.m. (a.m.) with a space before the p/a in news releases. (PM or AM may be appropriate in a flyer or website notice, but not for blogs or releases)
  USE: The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. | DON'T USE: The meeting will begin at 5pm.
• Never use :00 in times.
  USE: The meeting begins at 5 p.m. | DON'T USE: The meeting begins at 5:00 p.m.
• Use noon or midnight instead of 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. 
  USE: A meal will be served at noon. | DON'T USE: A meal will be served at 12 p.m.
• If referring to a period of time, use “to” and do not repeat the a.m. or p.m. if it is the same as the first time.
  USE: The store is open from 9 to 11 a.m. | USE: The store is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | DON'T USE: The store is open from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

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